Airline industry giant in Europe ponders boosting rewards for employees who detect excess baggage
In the competitive world of budget airlines, Ryanair stands out for its strict and commercially aggressive approach to excess baggage fees. Passengers who exceed the paid allowance face charges of up to €75 (£65), and the airline employs staff who are incentivized with commissions of approximately €1.50 for each oversized bag identified [1][2][4].
In contrast, while easyJet also reportedly offers staff commissions for spotting oversized bags, Ryanair is the only budget airline whose CEO, Michael O’Leary, has openly confirmed and defended this practice [4]. This suggests that Ryanair’s approach is more transparent and possibly more forceful regarding the enforcement and monetization of excess baggage.
Recently, Ryanair announced an increase in the free cabin bag allowance by 20% to comply with new or forthcoming EU regulations. The new allowance includes a personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) plus a larger hand luggage piece (up to 100 cm total dimension and 7 kg weight) [3]. Despite this, Ryanair remains firm on strict compliance and penalty fees for overweight or oversized bags.
EasyJet, on the other hand, allows a standard free carry-on bag, but there is less emphasis on aggressive enforcement reported compared to Ryanair [3].
Here's a comparison of the two airlines' baggage policies:
| Aspect | Ryanair | easyJet | |-------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------| | Excess baggage fee | Up to €75 (about £65) | Fees exist but less publicly highlighted; staff receive commissions | | Staff commission | ~€1.50 per oversized bag; CEO endorses increasing it | Commissions reported but less openly acknowledged | | Free cabin bag allowance| Recently increased, strict enforcement remains | Allows standard free carry-on, less emphasis on aggressive enforcement reported | | CEO stance | Openly supports strict enforcement and commissions | No public CEO statement confirming policies openly |
Ryanair's aggressive baggage enforcement model, including staff commissions, is more pronounced and transparent than easyJet’s, aligning with CEO O’Leary’s cost-control and profitability strategies. Other budget airlines like Wizz Air also allow one small personal item free, but Ryanair appears unique in actively incentivizing staff with direct commissions for excess baggage enforcement [1][2][4].
Travelers flying with Ryanair may encounter stricter baggage policies compared to those using easyJet, as the former's CEO openly endorses aggressive enforcement and commissions for staff who identify oversized bags, a practice that sets Ryanair apart among budget airlines. Meanwhile, easyJet's approach appears less emphasis on aggressive enforcement, though it does have fees for excess baggage and reportedly incentivizes staff in a similar manner.
